Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Jr., approached Kasich team's to offer the Ohio governor "the most powerful vice president in history," according to the New York Times

Receive the latest national-international updates in your inbox

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on July 19, 2016, in Cleveland, during the second day of the Republican convention.

Donald Trump said he never asked John Kasich to be his running mate after the Trump team reportedly reached out to the Ohio governor’s staff with the job offer.

According to a New York Times report, a Kasich senior adviser said it was Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who made the offer in May, a few weeks after Kasich suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination.

But after arriving in Cleveland Wednesday afternoon, the elder Trump distanced himself from the report, tweeting: “John Kasich was never asked by me to be V.P. Just arrived in Cleveland - will be a great two days!"

John Kasich was never asked by me to be V.P. Just arrived in Cleveland - will be a great two days!

The New York Times said Donald Jr. told the staffer that as “the most powerful vice president in history,” Kasich would be responsible for domestic and foreign policy, leaving Trump with the task of “making America great again.”

With 18 electoral votes, Ohio has been carried by every winning presidential candidate since 1964, which makes Ohio a key battleground. That makes Kasich’s support for the party’s nominee even more important.

Kasich is still refusing to endorse Trump. In an interview with NBC News Monday, he said Trump would "have to change everything that he says" for him to agree to speak at the convention.

"We can't be attacking Muslims and Hispanics, and trying to shut down trade, and not caring about the debt," Kasich told NBC News' Lester Holt. "Those are all problems for me."

Kasich said he didn't see eye-to-eye with the Republican Party's nominee.

Donald Trump's Son Speaks on Night 2 of RNCDuring the second night of the Republican National Convention, Donald trump Jr. took to the stage, detailing his father’s character.
“For too long our country has ignored its problems, punting them down the road,” he said. “We need to elect a man who has a track record of accomplishing the impossible.” (Published Tuesday, July 19, 2016)

"I don't hold any personal animus towards Donald Trump," Kasich said. "We just are two companies that have different values, different directions, and different philosophies."

Kasich arrived in Cleveland Tuesday and avoided the convention altogether. Instead, he headlined a state party reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, about a mile from the Quicken Loans Arena.

Kasich’s refusal to back Trump and attend has angered top Trump staff and Republican faithful.

Melania Trump Speaks at RNC 2016Melania Trump speaks at the opening night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. (Published Monday, July 18, 2016)

"He is making a big mistake. He is looking at something that is not going to happen. He is hurting his state,” Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Monday. “He is embarrassing his state, frankly."